World Badminton organisers apologise to winner Marin for playing incorrect anthem

Jakarta: Organisers of the World Badminton Championships apologised yesterday for playing a Franco-era anthem for Spain’s Carolina Marin after she defended India’s Saina Nehwal for her women’s singles title. The 22-year-old smiled as organisers played the old version of the anthem that includes lyrics by poet Jose Maria Peman.

Carolina Marin, wrapped in the Spanish flag, poses with her gold medal following her win over India’s Saina Nehwal in the World Badminton Championships final at Jakarta yesterday. Pic/AFP

“An older version of the anthem was played during the women’s singles medal ceremony following Marin’s retention of the title which she won a year ago,” the Badminton World Federation said in a statement.

“The Badminton World Federation and Indonesia Badminton Association, sincerely regret this unfortunate mistake.” During Franco’s 1939-75 regime schoolchildren learned a version of the anthem with lyrics by Peman but the words were never officially approved.